Hole-cleaning valve for rock drills



` Nov. 4, 1930. L. L. RICHARDSON 1,780,440

HOLE CLEANING VALVE FOR ROKV DRILLS Y A Il III Patented Nov. 4, 1930 UNITED STT,saghj ePrice LED L. RICHARDSON, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOB, TO THE CLEVELAND ROCK DRILL COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO HOLE-CLEANING- VALVE FOR ROCK DRILLS Application filed August 21, 1928. Serial No. 301,067.

The present invention is directed to improvements in hole cleaning valves for rock drills.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device of this character so constructed that either water or motive fluid can be conducted through the fluid conducting tube for cleaning cuttings romthe drill hole.

Another object of the invention is to pro- 10 vide a device of this kind wherein a valve is employed capable oi being rotated in reverse direction in order that water or air can be selectively used for removing the cuttings from the hole being drilled.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character so constructed that a unitary device is produced wherein a drill equipped with the device can be used wet or dry as the occasion may require, the 20 construction being extremely simple and compact, durable, eflicient in operation, and one which can be manufactured at a small cost.

Vith these and other objects in view, as will appear as the description proceeds, the in- 25 vention accordingly consists in the novel fean tures of construction, combination of elements and arrangements of parts, hereinafter to be fully described and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which similar characters of reference denote like and corresponding parts throughout the several views thereof Figure 1 is a sectional view showing the 35 valve in position for utilizing the motive fluid for blowing a hole.

Figure 2 is a view showing the valve in position for blowing or cleansing the hole with water.

Figure 3 is an end view of the valve controlling handle.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates the back head of a drill which is coupled to the cylinder 2 in the customary manner and has movable therein the piston hammer 3, and

into which extends the usual rifle bar 4l, said bar and hammer having alined bores 5 and 6, respectively, and in which extends the fluid conducting tube 7. The back head is proe: vided with a chamber 8, threaded for a portion of its length, as at 9, said chamber being in communication near its upper end with the water inlet passage through a passage 11. rlhe lower end of the chamber is connected with the motive fluid passage 12 by a passage 13.

A plug 14 is employed and is threaded in lthe chamber 8, said plug having a reduced extension 15 upon its lewer end and in whiel is formed a seat 16, the purpose of which will be later explained. The fluid conducting tube 7 extends into the chamber 8 and has its extended end engaged in the packing elements 17 and upon which lrhe extension 15 rests to assure a iluid tight connection. The flanged end of the tube 7 is accommodated in the seat 16. The plug 14 is formed with an axial bore 18 which opens at its lower end into the sea-t 16; Rotatably .mounted in the bore v18 is a stem 19 having a head 2G upon its lowerI endlfor rotatably engaging the seat 16, said stein having conduit 211 formed longitudinally therein and closed at its upper end, as at 22, while the lower open end thereof opens through the head 20 and isalined with the upper end of the tube 7. Opening into the conduit 21 are upper and lower ports 23 and 24; which are adapted to be alternately brought into registration with the ducts 25 and 26 formed in the wall of the plug 14.

The upper end of the stem extends above the head 27 of the plug and is recessed at 28. Riveted to the extended end of the stem is a handle 29 having mounted therein a spring pressed plunger 30 adapted to selectively engage the sockets 31 and 32 formed in the base of the recess 28 to hold the stem in adjusted positions. By providing the recess 28 angularly disposed shoulders 33 are provided and serve to limit the swinging movement of the handle 29 in order that the plunger 30 will engage the sockets 31 and 32 in order to hold the respective ports 23 and 24 in registration with the ducts 25 and 26.

As shown in Figure 1 the plunger 30 is engaged in the socket 32, thus holding the stem with its port 24 in registration with the duct 26 in order that motive fluid ilowing from the passage 13 will enter the conduit 21 and pass therethrough into the tube 7 for blowing the cuttings from the drill hole. Obviously when the handle is swung in a reverse direction the port 24 will move out of registration with the duct 26 thus cutting off the flow of motive fluid, whereupon the port 23 will be brought into registration with the duct 25 in order that water flowing from the passage 1l Will pass into the conduit 2l and from thence into the tube 7 for cleansing the hole with water when desired.

What is claimed is l. The combination with the back head of a drill having a chamber therein, of a plug litted in the chamber, a stem rotatable in the plug and having a conduit therein, a fluid conducting tube, communicating with the conduit, said back head having motive fluid and water passages therein, and means carried by the plug and stem for selectively conduct-ing fluid from the respective passages to the tube, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination with the back head of a drill having a chamber therein, of a plug iitted in the chamber and having an extension upon its lower end provided with a seat, a stein rotatable in the plug, said stern having a conduit, one end being closed and the other end opening into the seat, a fluid conducting tube having its upper end located in the seat and alined with the conduit, said back head having a water passage and a motive fluid passage therein, means for conducting fluid from the respective passages to the chamber, co-operative means for selectively conducting either water or motive fluid to the conduit to be directed into the tube, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination with the back head of a drill having a plug fitted therein, of a. stem rotatable in the plug, said stem having a conduit therein, a fluid conducting tube a-lined with the conduit, said plug and stem having ducts and ports, respectively, said back head having water and motive luid passages therein, and communicating with the ducts, and means for rotating the stem to alternately cause registration of the ports and ducts.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

LED L. RICHARDSON 

